Tour: The Jewish World in the Middle Ages

Speyer, Worms and Mainz during the Middle Ages

This tour depicts the life of Jews in a town in the Middle Ages with general living conditions as background information.

The characteristics of this period are compared with everyday life today: How did Jews live back then? How did they earn a living? Which calendar did they use? There is evidence that Jews were living in the geographical area which is now Germany before the 9th century. The Rhine communities Speyer, Worms, and Mainz became prominent centers of Jewish life in the Middle Ages. Taking these three towns as an example, the diversity of the development of Jewish life and its significance for urban culture are examined.

Numerous exhibits illustrate the living conditions of Jews and the importance of religion in everyday life during this epoch.